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Oct. 10, 1933. G, MARQHN 1,929,596

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Filed Oct. 10, 1931 v George Marohm M I v Patented Oct. 10, 1933 UNETED STATES PATENT GFFECE.

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Illinois Application October 10, 1931. Serial No. 568,064

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to filing devices, and more in particular to filing means for stencils and the like, such as are commonly used in the duplication of written and printed matter.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel filing device adapted to hold a plurality of such stencils, or the like, which are usually quite fragile, and in such a condition as to assure their usability when desired.

19 Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel stencil filing device of such a construction that a plurality of stencils may be easily and readily filed adjacent one another, this novel filing device protecting the stencils when not in use against tearing, wrinkling, creasing,

and the like.

Heretofore, it has been the practice to take the used stencils and to fold them in one or more directions whereby the same could be either filed away adjacent one another or placed in envelopes, or the like, to prevent their destruction.

When filed in this particular manner, the creasing or folding of the stencils affects their utility in providing additional copies of the indicia or impressions present on the stencils. Further, the filing of these stencils is laborious and consumes considerable time and effort to find a stored or filed stencil when it desired to use the same.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel filing device for these stencils, wherein suitable means is provided whereby a plurality of stencils may be easily and readily filed in their original condition and in a position for immediate use. The present invention also contemplates the idea of so arranging or filing these stencils that one or more of the same may be quickly identified when it is desired to use them. For this purpose, the stencils may be indexed for suitably indicating the material or impressions thereon, or other suitable indexing means, such as tabs or the like, may be secured thereto for properly and systematically indexing the same.

Other objects, features, capabilities and advantages are comprehended by the invention, as will later appear and as are inherently possessed thereby.

Referring to the drawing- Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a filing device for stencils made in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in transverse cross-section of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 of the drawing; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in transverse cross-section similar to that shown in Figure 2 of the drawing.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing,

a stencil-filing device made in accordance with the present invention is shown as comprising a receptacle 2, formed from any desired material, such as steel or wood, the same being provided with an open front panel 4 normally closed by swingable doors or closure elements 6 and 8 which are pivoted to the receptacle 2 in any desired manner, as shown at 10, whereby access to the interior of the receptacle 2 may be gained from the front side thereof.

This receptacle 2 is further constructed with an open top 12 normally closed by a closure element 7 or panel 14, suitably hinged, as at 16, to the top of the receptacle 2. The present invention contemplates the idea of using a receptacle, such as 2, in conjunction with one or more other receptacles or cabinets of similar construction and in superimposed relation. Therefore, each of the receptacles 2 is provided with openings 18 adjacent the opening of the top 12 for receiving a bolt or the like for securing a similar receptacle immediately thereabove to this receptacle 2. Of course, when the receptacle 2 is used in conjunction with other and superimposed similar receptacles, the closure element 14 may be conveniently removed from the hinges 16, or the like, or the same may be constructed without the hinges 16 secured thereto. Further, the receptacle 2 is also constructed with an open bottom panel 20 normally closed by a false bottom 22 when the receptacle 2 is used singularly, this false bottom 22 being adapted to be removed when one or more of these receptacles are used in superimposed relation. In this manner, access to the top of a receptacle immediately below the receptacle shown in the drawing may be gained through the opening of the front panel 4, for a purpose to be later more fully disclosed.

Secured to the receptacle 2 and immediately adjacent the opening in the top 12 are oppositely disposed supporting members 24 and 26, for supporting a plurality of stencils 27, each or" these members being formed with an open groove 28 substantially coextensive with the front and rear of the receptacle 2, the walls forming this groove being flared laterally thereof, as at 30, to provide guiding surfaces for directing the ends of a stencil-suspending member into the grooves, as will be later more fully disclosed.

The stencils 27, as shown in the drawing, are the conventional type of stencils used in the wellknown duplicating machine, these stencils 27 be ing punched adjacent their upper edge to provide a plurality of openings 32 for securing these stencils to the duplicating machine during the operation thereof. These openings 32 adjacent the upper edge of the stencils 27 are used in the present embodiment for suspending these stencils in a hanging position within the receptacle 2 and on the supporting members 24 and 26. In order to facilitate the ready and easy removal or replacement of these stencils 2'], a flexible rod or member 34 is threaded through the openings dg and is of a length adapted to project beyond the marginal side edges or" the stencil and be received within the grooves 28 of the supporting members 24 and 26.

When it is desired to file a stencil within the receptacle 2, a flexible rod or member 34 is threaded through the openings 32 in accordance with the above disclosure. The closure members 6.,and 8, as likewise the closure member 14, may be swung ed, to provide access to the receptacle 2 through the openings provided inthe front and top thereof. The stencil being filed is then inserted through the Opening in the front l and into a position corresponding to the position shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, one end of the flexible rod 34 being inserted in the groove 28 of either one of the members 24 or 26, and the rod flexed so that its other end may be received within the groove of the other supporting member, the flared guiding surfa es of the walls 30 acting to guide these ends of the flexible rod 34 into the grooves of the supporting members 24 and26. I

During the filing of the stencils from the front of the receptacle 2, the file clerk may assist and direct the placing of the ends of the flexible rod 34: in the grooves 28 from the top opening of the receptacle 2. When it is desired toremove these stencils from the receptacle or cabinet 2, the flexible member 34 is flexed as indicated to cause disengagement of the ends thereof with the supporting members 24 and 26. The stencil being removed is then drawn downwardly and outwardly through the opening provided on the front of the cabinet. Because of the roughness of one of the surfaces of the stencil, the removal or replacement of the stencils must be effected by a movement downwardly and outwardly through the opening of the front 4, otherwise a creasing, wrinkling, or even a tearing of the stencils adjacent the one being removed would be caused by an upward movement thereof.

For the purpose of indexing, the stencils may be appropriately marked upon that portion of the same above the flexible rod or member 24, or suitable tabs, such as the tabs 36 may be secured to one or more of these stencils for systematically indexing the same, these tabs 36 being visible upon movement of the closure member 14.

While I have herein described and upon the drawing shown an illustrated embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may comprehend other constructions, arrangements of parts, details and features without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A stencil file comprising a receptacle, and

stencil-supporting members secured in spaced relation in said receptacle, said members being formed with a groove having laterally projecting Wall portions.

2. A stencil file comprising a receptacle, and stencil-supporting members secured in spaced relation in said receptacle, said members being formed with flaring wall portions providing a groove therebetween.

3. A stencil filing device comprising in combination, a receptacle, stencil-supporting members secured to said receptacle, said members being formed with grooves, and a stencil having a member received in said grooves to suspend the same in hanging position on said supporting members.

4. A stencil filing device comprising in combination, a receptacle, stencil-supporting members secured to said receptacle, said members being formed with laterally projecting wall portions defining grooves, and a stencil having a member guided by said portions and received by said grooves to suspend the same in hanging position on said supporting members.

5. A stencil filing device, comprising in combi nation, a receptacle, stencil-supporting members secured to said receptacle, said members being formed with laterally projecting flared Wall portions defining grooves, and a rod which is flexed during filing of said stencil whereby the ends thereof are guided by said wall portions into said grooves.

6. A stencil filing device comprising in combination, a receptacle having an opening in the front thereof normally closed by closure members, stencil-supporting members secured to said receptacle, said members being formed with grooves. and a stencil adapted to be received in said receptacle through said opening, a flexible member adapted to engage the stencil to suspend he same in the receptacle, said member being flexed during filing of said stencil whereby the ends thereof are received in said grooves.

7. A stencil filing device comprising in combination, a receptacle having an opening in the front thereof normally closed by closure members, stencil-supporting members secured to said receptacle-said members having laterally projecting flared wall portions forming grooves, and a stencil received in said receptacle through said opening and having a fiexibie member to suspend the same in hanging position in said grooves, said member being; flexed-during filing of said stencil whereby the ends thereof are guided by said flared wall portions into said grooves.

.3. A stencil filing device comprising in combination, a receptacle having openings in the top and front thereof normally closed by closure members, stencil-supporting members secured to said receptacle adjacent said top opening, said members being formed with grooves, and a stencil having a flexible member to suspend the same in hanging position in said grooves, said member being flexed during filing of said stencil whereby the ends thereof are received in said grooves.

GEORGE MAROHN.

IOU 

